Core sector output expands at a faster pace of 6.7% in January

Core sector industrial production in India grew at a faster pace of 6.7 per cent in January 2018 against a 4 per cent growth recorded in December 2017, data released by the commerce ministry showed.

Core sector output was boosted by an 11-per cent growth in petroleum refinery production a 20.7-per cent jump in cement production and an 8.2 per cent increase in electricity generation.

Output in the eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity, which carry nearly 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), expanded at a cumulative 4.3 per cent in April-January  2017-18.

Effective April 2017, the base year of the index of eight core industries has been revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12, which is in line with the new base year of Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Production of coal, which has a weight of 10.33 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP), increased by 3.0 per cent in January 2018. Cumulative production of coal increased by 1.5 per cent during April-January 2017-18.

Crude oil (weight of 8.98 per cent in IIP) declined by 3.2 per cent in January 2018 while its cumulative production declined by 0.7 per cent during April-January 2017-18.

Natural gas (weight of 6.88 per cent in IIP) declined by 1.0 per cent in January 2018 while cumulative production of natural gas increased by 3.5 per cent during April-January 2017-18.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 28.04 per cent in IIP) increased by 11.0 per cent in January 2018 while cumulative refinery production increased by 4.7 per cent during April-January 2017-18.

Fertilisers production (weight of 2.63 per cent in IIP) declined by 1.6 per cent in January 2018 while cumulative production of fertilizers declined by 0.7 per cent during April-January 2017-18.

Steel production (weight of 17.92 per cent in IIP) increased by 3.7 per cent in January 2018 while cumulative steel production increased by 6.4 per cent during April-January 2017-18.

Cement production (weight of 5.37 per cent in IIP) increased by 20.7 per cent in January 2018 while cumulative cement production increased by 4.4 per cent during April-January 2017-18.

Electricity generation (weight of 19.85 per cent in IIP) increased by 8.2 per cent in January 2018 while cumulative generation of electricity increased by 5.4 per cent during April-January 2017-18.